Analysis Of Ursula Leguin's She Unnames Them

The different techniques to explore literary works all lead to new meanings behind the same piece. In Ursula LeGuin’s short story “She Unnames Them,” a Formalistic analytical approach can be taken to find a deeper meaning within the text. By examining the different elements within the text instead of trying to understand the outside influences on the author, the characters, plot, and setting all transform into vital parts of telling her message. The theme that LeGuin is now able to express is that a person’s or thing’s importance does not lie in its name, rather what they do with themselves is their defining features. Through developing her characters in a unique way, LeGuin is able to best lead the reader to find the central message in her

To do this, she completely rewrites the narrative of Adam and Eve now from Eve’s perspective. Although the story starts in third person, it switches to first person proving that she is in fact the narrator and the director of the story. With the change in the point of view, Eve is shown to be taking control of the situation she is in to change her life for the best as nothing good could come from her just waiting. Because it is not simply a retelling the story of Eve gaining knowledge by eating the forbidden fruit and getting kicked out of Eden, the story is continued to show how she has changed. Eve is revealed to be using her knowledge in a virtuous way by trying to create equality, but Adam is not taking full advantage of what he gained and is instead ignoring his wife and what she has done. Since he does not notice any of the changes, Eve was given the perfect opportunity to undo part of what Adam and God worked together to do, create an order to rank importance of all beings. Without Eve dominating the action, LeGuin would never have been able to progress the story the way she wanted to be able to give her